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Four youth volunteers
earn national recognition

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Star-Bulletin staff

Concern with ocean debris and feeding the unfortunate have earned $1,000 awards, silver medallions and paid trips to Washington, D.C., for Leanne Nakamura, 17, of Kaneohe and Aubrie Weedling, 13, of Honolulu.

They were named Hawaii's top youth volunteers for 2000 today in the national Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

Nakamura, a senior at James B. Castle High School, was nominated by the school for creating "S.A.V.E. Kualoa Beach" and organizing school volunteers to clean the beach and remove nets.

Weedling, a Moanalua Middle School eighth grader, was nominated by her school for volunteering at a food bank and at the Institute for Human Services.

Named as "Distinguished Finalists" and receiving bronze medallions were Keila Ching, 18, of Honolulu, a Punahou School senior, and Todd Nishida, 17, of Aiea. Ching designed and installed a vegetable, herb and flower garden for recreational therapy at Shriners' Hospital. Nishida designed and supervised development of an amphitheater at Pearl City Urban Garden Center.

The top two state winners will compete with honorees from other states for America's 10 top youth volunteers, to be named May 8.